Rialto Opens; Guards Sign in Online Auction

Another famous space -- once the home of the legendary Guards restaurant which closed last summer -- at 2915 M St., NW, is now the Venetian-inspired Rialto, an Italian eatery, owned by Moe and Joe Idrissi, who run Thunder Burger across the street. Meanwhile, the old sign for the Guards restaurant is being auctioned off on Ebay, with the starting price of $10,000. (No bid yet as of noon, Sept. 24; proceeds of the sale will go to D.C. Central Kitchen.) The bidding will end Sept. 26, the same day as the official opening for Rialto. The Peabody Room of the Georgetown Public Library has asked for the sign as a donation because of its historical value.